Because it's so hard to find inefficient chuckers like Rudy? Jose is a good percentage PG who passes very well and doesn't turn the ball over too much, I'd gladly take that over what Rudy offers.

You might be able to argue the most important but he's definitely not the best player. He's 31 with crappy defense. I feel he can be a missing piece on a team but if he's your 2nd or even 3rd option on offense, you're not going anywhere.

Why do you always only look at current year numbers, refusing to acknowledge the possibility that he's just having an off year? That's just a really lazy, inaccurate way of evaluating players.

Other than his rookie year he's never shot under 45%, and he's a good defender while Calderon is atrocious defensively. It's not even close.

He can shoot over 45 percent, but it doesn't matter if he's not good at shooting threes or doesn't get to the line very often. He's basically just a jump shooter, and he's not exactly elite at it. Plus, he's an average rebounder, a below average passer, and is a good defender but it could easily be because of the fact that he played next to Tony Allen aka god on defense.

I really would like to see someone actually argue my point. Rudy was the fifth most important player on the team, and he was getting paid a max deal basically. Tayshaun isn't really much of a downgrade, and Ed Davis gives them a pretty lethal 3 man big rotation for the playoffs. I think they're better right now.

As for Toronto, they didn't acquire a franchise player. They're investing almost $30 million in two nowhere near elite perimeter players in Rudy/DeRozan, and they continue to have Bargs on the team.

And I would really like to see you argue why Jose Calderon, a solid offensive player who negates a lot of that with his defense, is better than Rudy *** who is a solid player on both sides of the ball.

Who is creating their own shot from the perimeter for Memphis now? Tayshaun? Tony Allen? lololololol.

What is stopping opposing teams from packing the paint even more than they already did against Memphis?

And I would really like to see you argue why Jose Calderon, a solid offensive player who negates a lot of that with his defense, is better than Rudy *** who is a solid player on both sides of the ball.

Who is creating their own shot from the perimeter for Memphis now? Tayshaun? Tony Allen? lololololol.

What is stopping opposing teams from packing the paint even more than they already did against Memphis?

Gasol is a solid shooter from everywhere and is one of the best passing big men in the league. Crowding him won't exactly accomplish much in the paint. And they have their most success when they force it into him and Z-Bo anyways, so it's not a big deal. They don't need a "shot creator" on the perimeter, they're good enough to win without one. Plus, if being a shot creator means you get 17 PPG on 16 shots, that's a pretty low bar.

EDIT: And Rudy isn't a solid offensive player, he's an average offensive player that gets blown up due to his PPG (which isn't even that great). Again, he's a good defender but Tony Allen makes him look better than he actually is. Calderon's a well above average offensive player and he's not a good defender, but he's not the worst in the NBA either.

I don't know how many people here live in Canada and therefore see every Raptors game, but Calderon is pretty awful on defence and hurt them considerably on that end of the floor. Add that to the fact they clearly know they have no possibility of bringing in any legitimate near top-tier players via free agency, this deal makes sense.
The only other option to trading for a near-top level player is to draft one, which obviously is easier said than done. They should have gone fire sale in an attempt to win the lottery next season for Wiggins, but that would likely have cost some guys their jobs, so I can see why they didn't.

As a Raptor fan I agree with a lot of what Brodeur is saying, although I'd say that Ed Davis is actually the best player in this deal, putting up 13 and 8 as a starter on 55.7% shooting coupled with good defense. The trade would be decent for Toronto if Rudy ***'s reputation as being a very good small forward was true. In reality he's slightly above average, and is owed a total of around 37 million over the next 2 seasons. The Raptor's are now pretty much completely capped out/right at the luxury tax line next year for a team that's probably at best an 8th seed.

As for Calderon, he has his limitations (e.g. his lack of lateral speed making him a poor defender) but he's a very smart, super efficient PG who excels in the pick and roll and can shoot from anywhere on the court. He's going to get Drummond a ton of easy baskets off the pick-and-roll

I'm gonna be very sad to see Evans go, if the Kings don't extend a qualifying offer. He's been so much better this year, i wish we'd just get rid of Aaron Brooks and Marcus Thornton. And Salmons and Outlol and Hayes (only cause he steals TRob's minutes, he's very solid otherwise).

I'm gonna be very sad to see Evans go, if the Kings don't extend a qualifying offer. He's been so much better this year, i wish we'd just get rid of Aaron Brooks and Marcus Thornton. And Salmons and Outlol and Hayes (only cause he steals TRob's minutes, he's very solid otherwise).

Trade away a 26 year old for another big man when they have 2 big men already? Uh I don't know what brody is talking about I'd take *** on the mavericks right now. He doesn't want to be there, memphis is a poorly coached team all that talent with a **** coach and this is what happens. I hope he tears it up, always been a big fan of Rudy.